Stepan Launches STEPOSOL® MET-10U, a Powerful, Sustainable Surfactant Designed to Replace Solvents

NORTHFIELD, Ill. and WOODRIDGE, Ill., March 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Stepan Company, one of the leading global surfactant manufacturers, today introduced STEPOSOL® MET-10U, a novel surfactant derived from natural oils that is targeted to displace solvents.

This powerful new cleaning solution is the first commercial product launched by Stepan as part of its joint development agreement with Elevance Renewable Sciences, Inc. The Development Agreement was established to develop and commercialize new surfactants and other products by combining Elevance's novel Inherent™ building blocks with Stepan's derivatization and application capabilities.

"STEPOSOL® MET-10U changes the dynamics of cleaning by utilizing surfactant technology in place of a solvent and delivering superior performance," said Richard Stepan, Business Manager for Household, Institutional and Industrial Products. "It creates powerful, sustainable cleaning solutions in a wide range of applications."

"STEPOSOL® MET-10U is another example of how Elevance is working with other companies to create better performing products with a smaller environmental footprint," said Elevance Senior Vice President, Consumer & Industrial Ingredients, Andy Corr. "Replacing solvents with sustainable surfactant technology that has improved performance is a significant advancement for industry and consumers."

This innovative solution utilizes a naturally derived, metathesized feedstock to form a next generation bio-based surfactant that achieves sustainability goals while improving cleaning performance. The applications for STEPOSOL® MET-10U are broad, including adhesive removal, paint and coating removal systems, kitchen degreasers and all-purpose cleaners for both consumer and industrial uses.

STEPOSOL® MET-10U highlights include:

• As a household cleaner, delivers better and faster cleaning performance at half the solvent loading with neutral pH in comparison to alkaline degreasers (pH 11-13);
• As an adhesive remover, provides equivalent removal of various adhesives at 5% concentration in aqueous phase compared with 100% N-methyl pyrrolidone;
• As a paint remover, achieves safe and efficient removal of latex paint at 5% concentration in aqueous phase compared with 100% solvent systems with methylene chloride.

Since 2010, when the joint development agreement was signed, Stepan has produced and screened derivatives of Elevance Inherent™ building blocks and performed physical property and application tests to determine novel performance. Elevance Inherent™ renewable building blocks are made from natural oils processed with its proprietary metathesis catalyst. These novel building blocks have chemical structures that can be used to construct unique, better performing surfactant solutions, including STEPOSOL® MET-10U.

STEPOSOL® MET-10U specific product attributes include its Kauri-butanol value greater than 1000; boiling point of 297°C; Biorenewable Carbon Index of 75%; and formulating pH range of 3-12. These parameters create a high-strength and non-volatile surfactant, which provides faster and more effective cleaning by fulfilling the role of both a low HLB surfactant and a strong solvent.

About Stepan Company

Stepan Company is a leading manufacturer of specialty and intermediate chemicals used in a broad range of industries, including surfactants, which are the key ingredients in consumer and industrial cleaning compounds. The company is also a leading supplier of Polyurethane polyols used for the expanding thermal insulation and CASE (Coatings, Adhesives, Sealants, Elastomers) industries.

Headquartered in Northfield, Illinois, Stepan utilizes a network of modern production facilities located in North and South America, Europe and Asia.

The common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol SCL. For more information about Stepan Company please visit the company online at www.stepan.com or www.stepan.com/STEPOSOLMET.

About Elevance Renewable Sciences, Inc.

Headquartered in Woodridge, Ill., Elevance Renewable Sciences, Inc. creates novel specialty chemicals from natural oils for use in personal care products, detergents and cleaners, lubricants and additives, engineered polymers, and other specialty chemicals markets. Commercial shipments from the company's first biorefinery, a 180,000 MT joint venture with Wilmar International Limited located in Gresik, Indonesia, began in 2013. Elevance's Natchez, Miss., site is scheduled to be the second biorefinery with a capacity of 280,000 MT. To learn more, visit www.elevance.com or www.renewicals.com.

SOURCE Stepan Company; Elevance Renewable Sciences, Inc.